Wednesday, November 27, 2013

First of Four Phases to Begin on Oct. 1, 2014; Minimum Wage Would Increase to $11.50 Per Hour in 2017

ROCKVILLE, Md., November 26, 2013—The Montgomery County
Council today enacted amended Bill 27-13 that establishes a County minimum wage
for certain private sector and County employees for work performed in the
County for an employer operating and doing business in the County. The County
minimum wage would be phased in over four years, reaching $11.50 per hour on
Oct. 1, 2017.

Bill 27-13, with amendments, was approved by a vote of 8-1.
Voting in favor of the bill were Council President Nancy Navarro, Council Vice
President Craig Rice, and Councilmembers Roger Berliner, Marc Elrich, Valerie
Ervin, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal, and Hans Riemer. Councilmember Phil
Andrews voted against the bill.

The chief sponsor of Bill 27-13 was Councilmember Elrich.
Council President Navarro and Councilmember Ervin were co-sponsors.

Bill 27-13 will:

Require certain employers in the County to pay a minimum
wage to employees for work performed in the County.

Provide enforcement by the County’s Office of Human Rights
and the Human Rights Commission.

Maryland's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, or $15,000 a year for a full-time, year round worker. This leaves a full-time earner and their family below the Federal poverty line. Twenty-one states have raised their minimum wage above Maryland's rate.

Bill 27-13 establishes a County minimum wage for work
performed in the County unless the State or Federal minimum wage is higher. The
County minimum wage would be phased in over four years. The rate would be $8.40
per hour on Oct. 1, 2014, $9.55 per hour on Oct 1, 2015, $10.75 per hour on
Oct. 1, 2016, and $11.50 per hour on Oct. 1, 2017.

The County minimum wage would not apply to a worker who is
not covered by the State minimum wage or a worker eligible for an opportunity
or youth minimum wage under the State or Federal law.

Today, the Council, in addition to modifying the phase-in of
the increase to $11.50 per hour, approved several other amendments to the
original bill. The amendments included will:

Apply the County minimum wage to tipped employees by
requiring an employer to pay a base equal to 50 percent of the State minimum
wage with an obligation to make up any shortfall in tips up to the County
minimum wage.

Delete the health care credit.

Add an exemption for a person under the age of 19 who works
20 hours or less in a week.

Add a provision requiring the County Executive to delegate
enforcement to a State agency that enforces the State Wage and Hour Law and is
authorized to enforce a County minimum wage law.

Add an anti-retaliation clause.

Amend the applicability to clarify that a worker must
perform the work in the County.

ROCKVILLE, Md., November 26, 2013—The Montgomery County
today unanimously approved the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master
Plan. The main purpose of that plan is to establish the routes and possible
station locations of the proposed countywide Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

BRT is a plan for specially designed buses to travel over
mostly dedicated lines throughout the County. The plan approved by the Council
provides a framework for future transit that would enhance transit already
available in the County in the form of Ride On, Metrobus and Metrorail and MARC
Commuter rail, as well as the future Purple Line and Corridor Cities Transitway
(CCT).

The Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan
recommends a network of Bus Rapid Transit lines covering about 82 miles and 110
stations, not including the already master-planned CCT.

The master plan approved by the Council recommends the
routes, the station locations and, for each segment, the minimum right-of-way.
The recommended plan also states whether there would be dedicated lanes or not,
and whether there would be up to 0, 1 or 2 lanes added in the road's
cross-section dedicated to BRT.

The recommendations in the approved plan will serve as
guidelines. Subsequent project planning studies could indicate that a route
should be diverted slightly to serve a major destination. A station location in
the plan means that there would be a station in the vicinity.

"I’m happy we are at this point today of adding Bus
Rapid Transit routes to the master plan and acknowledging the importance of
transit in our county. Seven years ago I asked my staff to find some
roads where we could put transit that connected people from where they live to
where they work. I knew that with all the existing congestion and all the
planned and already approved development, we needed more and better transit to
deal with traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions" said Councilmember
Marc Elrich, who introduced the concept of BRT for the County.

“Today our Council has set out a bold course toward a less
congested future,” said Councilmember Roger Berliner, who chairs the Council’s
Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee. “A network of
10 Bus Rapid Transit corridors—in dedicated lanes—is at the heart of the plan
unanimously adopted by our Council. It is an aspirational plan that
will be implemented only after extensive community involvement, and if
achieved, will make our County a transit leader in the country. It is a
plan that focuses on moving people most efficiently utilizing our existing
infrastructure, not just cars, and by doing so we will improve our quality of
life, our environment, and our competitiveness in the region.”

The master plan does not recommend specific approaches
on how BRT would be implemented on certain routes. For example, where the plan
recommends dedicated lanes and adding one transit lane to the cross-section, it
does not specify whether it would be a reversible lane (one direction in the
morning peak, the opposite in the evening peak) or bi-directional lane (both
directions in both peak periods, with a periodic lane to allow buses to pass).

Including the CCT, the plan identifies about 81 miles of
dedicated lanes and 21 miles of mixed traffic operations. Subsequent project
planning will determine the details of each route and there will be
opportunities for considerable public input.

"I was very proud to preside over the passage of the
Countywide Transit Corridors Master Plan, a plan to augment our public
transportation system with an ambitious network of dedicated lanes for buses,”
said Council President Nancy Navarro. “By itself, the plan we approved today
will not alter the flow of traffic on any road in the County. We still have
many years of funding decisions, public hearings, design and analysis before
the first shovel can touch the ground for any of the routes in the plan. But we
have put down an important marker—the Council understands that the only way to
accommodate growth without traffic screeching to a halt is investing big in
transit."

Councilmember Valerie Ervin said: “As the Council’s
representative on the County’s Pedestrian, Bicycle and Traffic Safety Advisory
Committee, I appreciate the designation of additional Bicycle-Pedestrian
Priority Areas, which will promote better accommodation of non-automotive modes
of transportation and increase safety, as part of the Countywide Transit
Corridors Functional Master Plan. In addition, I recognize how interconnected
improved transit is to our land use decisions, especially in eastern Montgomery
County.”

Councilmember Hans Riemer said: "As a member of the
transportation committee I am pleased to see the transit master plan earn such
strong support. Recognizing that most people will continue driving, this plan
seeks to add fewer new cars to our roads in the future by gradually building a
high quality public transportation alternative. We should proceed immediately with
the Corridor Cities Transitway as our demonstration project."

The corridor routes in the recommended plan are:

Corridor 1: Georgia Avenue North.
A proposed 9.6-mile corridor that would run nearly entirely on Georgia
Avenue (Maryland Route 97) between the Wheaton Metro Station and Olney.

Corridor 2: Georgia Avenue South. A proposed 3.9-mile corridor that
would run nearly entirely on Georgia Avenue between the Wheaton Metro Station
and the District of Columbia line.

Corridor 3: Maryland 355 North. A proposed 15.3-mile corridor that would
run almost entirely on Maryland 355 between the Rockville Metro Station and
Redgrave Place in Clarksburg, with two routes in Germantown East. The southern
portion of the corridor lies within the City of Rockville and the center
portion lies within the City of Gaithersburg.

Corridor 4: Maryland 355 South. A proposed 7.8-mile corridor that would
run entirely on Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue (Maryland 355) between the
Rockville and Bethesda Metro Stations. Despite the fact that it would run
directly parallel to the Red Line, it is projected to carry more riders than
any other proposed BRT route in this plan.

Corridor 5: New Hampshire Avenue. A proposed 8.5-mile corridor that
would run on New Hampshire Avenue (Maryland 650) from the Colesville
park-and-ride lot south to Eastern Avenue at the District of Columbia line.
This corridor is distinctive because it will require cooperation with Prince
George's County and the District of Columbia.

Corridor 6: North Bethesda Transitway. A proposed 2.7-mile corridor that
would run from either the Grosvenor or White Flint Metro Station to Old
Georgetown Road, south on Old Georgetown Road to Rock Spring Drive, and west on
Rock Spring drive and Fernwood Road to Montgomery Mall. There would also
be a new interchange connecting Fernwood Road to the HOV lane to and from the
south on I-270. This is part of a planned transit/HOV lane that would connect
to the HOT lanes in Virginia.

Corridor 7: Randolph Road. A proposed 10.l-mile corridor that would run
in mixed traffic nearly entirely on Randolph Road between the White Flint Metro
Station and the U.S. Route 29 corridor station at Tech Road. In the
western segment of the corridor, an alternative would be to add a BRT lane on
Montrose Parkway between Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike.

Corridor 8: University Boulevard. A proposed 5.5-mile corridor that
would run on University Boulevard (Maryland 193) between the Wheaton Metro
Station and Langley Park. It would also connect to—and, for a short stretch,
run concurrent with—the Purple Line, as well to five other proposed BRT
corridors: Veirs Mill Road, Georgia Avenue North, Georgia Avenue South, U.S. 29
and New Hampshire Avenue.

Corridor 9: U.S. Route 29. A proposed 12.3-mile corridor that generally
would run along Colesville Road and Columbia Pike between the District of
Columbia boundary and Burtonsville, with two routes in the White Oak area.

Corridor 10: Veirs Mill Road. A proposed 6.2-mile corridor that would
run almost entirely on Veirs Mill Road (Maryland 586) between the Wheaton and
Rockville Metro Stations.

Monday, November 25, 2013

The Montgomery County Department of Recreation is offering a wide range of
community events for the whole family to enjoy this holiday season:

Holiday
Magic and Fun – December 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Good Hope Community Recreation
Center, 14715 Good Hope Road, Silver Spring. Free. Celebrate the magic of the
holidays with Speed, one of the east coast’s premiere magicians.

Clara
Barton Holiday Craft Show – December 7, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Clara Barton
Community Center, 7425 MacArthur Boulevard, Cabin John. Free. Sponsored by the
Friends of Clara Barton Community Recreation Center, the show features local
artists and crafters.

Scuba Santa
– December 8, noon to 4 p.m. Olney Swim Center, 16605 Georgia Avenue. Ages 10
and up may use provided scuba equipment after receiving instruction. Those nine
and under can hold their breath and swim down for a quick shot with Santa. Or,
Santa will go to the concrete steps leading into the pool’s shallow end. A
suggested donation is any non-perishable food item of $5 or more. Cash
donations are also accepted. All donations benefit Manna Food Bank.

Potomac
Community Center Senior Holiday Party – December 13, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Potomac Community Recreation Center, 11315
Falls Road. Live holiday music by “Rearview Mirror.”Refreshments served for a nominal fee. For
more information, call 240-777-6960.

Breakfast
with Santa – December 21, 9 to 11 a.m. East County Community Center, 3310
Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring. Kids will enjoy a hearty breakfast, have
their picture taken with Santa and participate in fun activities. Cost is $3
for children ages 3-7 and $5 for ages 8 and up.

Santa’s
Workshop – December 21, 1 to 4 p.m. Mid-County Community Recreation Center,
2004 Queensguard Road, Silver Spring. Family fun includes Rufus the Red-Nosed
Raindog performed by the Blue Sky Puppet Theatre. Also, activities include
crafts, games and a visit with Santa. Free, but pre-registration is
requested.Course #365235.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

On Tuesday we approved the Long Branch Sector Plan that will
guide revitalization of that section of Silver Spring. With this plan, we hope
we have created incentives for positive commercial redevelopment, while
protecting the needs of existing community members. Using the Purple Line as a catalyst for redevelopment, the plan protects the area's character, its affordable housing and its small neighborhood-oriented businesses.

The plan recognizes that development of the Purple Line—the
proposed east-west transit line that will connect the Bethesda and New
Carrollton Metrorail stations—will have significant impact on Long Branch and
its real estate values. To prevent a loss of market affordable units, and
potential displacement of lower-income residents, we amended the plan to retain
the zoning on most of the existing multi-family developments.

The approved plan continues implementation of programs to
make Long Branch a more walkable community, with an emphasis on pedestrian
safety.

Among the items addressed in the approved plan was
designation of the Flower Theatre on the Master Plan for Historic Preservation.
The plan is specific about retaining certain parts of the structure, including
the theatre façade, two adjoining shoulders and a second wall to a depth of 40
feet from the theatre building line. The plan also calls for implementation of
design guidelines to encourage compatible and appropriate future development nearby.
The plan states that new buildings along Flower Avenue should not rise above
the theatre’s height.

In efforts to help preserve affordable housing in Long
Branch, the plan recommends CRT Zone optional method density incentives for
developers. It also recommends the targeted use of tax credits and other
financing tools that support public/private partnerships. The plan encourages
live/work units in appropriate locations and provides for a range of unit
sizes, including those accommodating larger families.

The approved plan encourages the retention of small
businesses and neighborhood-serving commercial uses.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

If you still have questions about the Zoning Code Rewrite,
check out the recently revised FAQ page. Here is just one example of what you
can find there:

Q: Why are non-residential buildings allowed in R-60 and
R-90 if they will introduce non-residential uses into single-family
neighborhoods?A: Non-residential buildings do not introduce non-residential
uses into single-family neighborhoods. The uses that are allowed in a zone are
determined by the Use Table in Section 3.1.6. Currently, in single family
zones, the code allows for uses such as churches, day care facilities,
non-residential offices, libraries, schools, etc. The provisions for
nonresidential buildings will establish standards that do not currently exist
for the buildings that contain these uses. These buildings would only be
permitted if they contain a use that is legal, as outlined in Section 3.1.6.
The purpose of creating the nonresidential building is to protect residential neighborhoods
from the impacts of non-residential uses. For example, there are currently no
limits on density for non-residential uses in the R-90 or R-60 zones. The
proposed draft represents a substantive change that limits the density of uses
located in non-residential buildings and requires increased street frontage, setbacks
for parking lots, larger side setbacks from neighboring residential properties,
and screening.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Recreation -- aquatic and community centers are open as scheduled. Aquatic classes and programs will meet as scheduled. All other classes, administrative offices, senior centers and all senior programs will be closed

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Thanks for visiting my blog. Nancy At Large is designed to be a place where we can have a conversation about current issues in Montgomery County. I encourage you to be open and honest. Sure, it is ok to disagree. Just please be polite, and I'll be happy to publish your comments.

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I was elected as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council in 2002 and am now in my fourth term. I serve as chair of the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee and am a member of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee.